Here's Chapter 2! Thanks to REALLY15, gingacookie03 and Becky L. Sly for the reviews on chapter 1. They are greatly appreciated!

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!

…

Julie Sanders sucked in her breath as she took in the sight of the name 'Bulma Brief.' She should have known that the day would come when she would cross paths with the one she still blamed for sabotaging her academic success. If only her mother had agreed to move away from West City. As an only child Julie felt obligated to look out for her mother after the untimely death of her father. Of course, Bulma still enjoyed the presence of both parents in her life.

The medical professional gave an involuntary hiss as she scanned over the personal information of this ''Trunks." His parents were listed as Bulma and Vegeta Brief which made it plain to see that her rival had married over the course of the last few years. Julie had only experienced several failed relationships. Even now the belle of West City seemed to have the perfect existence.

Something wasn't right. Why would Bulma's husband take her maiden name? It made absolutely no sense.

As Julie glossed over the record further a note caught her attention. It seemed the hospital director had signed a non-disclosure agreement with the Briefs. What did Bulma have to hide that she had such a measure put into her son's record? Certain information would be kept strictly confidential and only accessible to hospital administrative staff who were legally bound to keep silent about it.

A rueful smile crossed the brunette's face; no encrypted file was going to keep her from finding out just what the so-called 'Briefs' were attempting to conceal with the NDA put in place. With her intellect the computer program didn't exist that she couldn't decipher…..

"Excuse me. Excuse me, Doctor."

Julie looked up startled by the sudden appearance of a pretty blonde, blue-eyed teenager in a pink dress and white sneakers. Her forehead had a bandage wrapped around it.

"Can I help you?" she asked after carefully concealing the contents of the record she held.

"I hope so. My name's Marron. A friend and I were in a car accident and I need to find out if he's okay. His name is Trunks Brief."

Julie knew she was on the verge of something to use against Bulma and she wasn't going to lose out on the chance. A lie quickly formed in her mind.

"I've been here for a double shift and no one's been brought in with that name. Sorry, dear."

"Why wouldn't he be here? We were in the same car…." Marron began.

Dr. Sanders put a reassuring arm around the obviously distraught teen for a moment.

"We've been swamped today. The paramedics were probably advised to take your friend to another hospital."

Marron visibly brightened, "Thank you, you're right. I'll call his mom and she'll find out what happened. Bulma can find out anything!"

Julie's hand tightened so forcefully on the pen she held that it snapped in half…

…

Graduation Day:

Julie Sanders stared dismally at her mirrored reflection. Her black graduation gown was offset by a golden stole about her shoulders with Salutatorian etched in glittering letters. Her father had been bitterly disappointed that she had not received the prestigious title of Valedictorian.

"Second best!" Robert Sanders had snorted in disgust. He had even went so far as to threaten to not even attend the commencement service.

"Seriously now, Robert! This is our darling girl's special day, DO be supportive!" her strawberry-blonde, green-eyed mother had scolded her husband.

Robert stood stiff and unyielding in his gray business suit and crisply starched white shirt. Horn-rimmed glasses framed his stormy gray-blue eyes and his hair matched the color of his daughter's.

His shoulders sagged for a moment then he gave a sigh of resignation.

"Very well let's get this travesty over with!"

"I knew you'd see reason, dear!"

With a final check of her cobalt blue dress and elegant chignon, Melinda Sanders encouraged her family to be on their way to the graduation ceremony….

...

Senior High Graduation:

Gritting her teeth Julie Sanders forced herself to endure the valedictorian's speech. She was expected to deliver a speech as well after Bulma Brief had completed hers. Thunderous applause resounded as the heiress concluded her oration. Dr. Brief and his wife Panchy were all smiles and the pair were clapping most enthusiastically.

It took a Herculean effort to keep the resentment out of her voice as Julie presented her own address to the graduating class. This was to have been the triumphant culmination of years of hard work and study but all her efforts seemed to pale in contrast to the accomplishments of Bulma Brief.

The biomechanics genius managed to choke out the last of her presentation which was followed by a respectable amount of applause. Her mother shouted praise while clapping wildly in stark contrast to her father who sat with his arms crossed over his chest. Surely he was still proud of her? Julie's heart sank as she caught the disappointment plainly evident in his expression. A sharp elbow in the ribs from his wife made Robert Sanders bring his hands together twice before resuming his original pose. The brunette genius forced back bitter tears if only miss know-it-all had attended any other school…..

….

Present Day/West City Hospital:

Julie entered the treatment room that contained the mysterious "Trunks Brief." A fair-skinned, lavender haired young man lay motionless on a hospital bed. His chest rose and fell giving the only noticeable sign that he still lived. A sizable welt and purplish-black bruising marked his forehead. Numerous first-aid strips covered the cuts and abrasions that were scattered about his facial area. Julie scowled as she took in the similarities the teenaged male shared with his mother. The expensive car he'd been driving was doubt a gift from a doting Bulma Brief or even his obscenely wealthy grandparents. Spoiled pup would probably sail through life without encountering nary a struggle just like his mother….it wasn't fair!

"It's about time the "princess" has a few bumps in the road of life!" Julie grumbled.

She removed the patient identification from Trunks' wrist and from the chart at the foot of the bed. Her guest would be an "unidentified male" until she discovered the mystery Bulma Brief was so keen on concealing. Taking a syringe from her pocket the doctor administered a clear solution via the I.V in her patient's right hand.

"That should keep you out until I find out what Bulma is hiding…."

….

Julie rubbed her eyes as she took in the words on the screen before her. Exhaustion must be taking its toll on her as the information before her couldn't possibly be factual….

Her eyes widened the administrator's signature was below that of Bulma Brief ensuring that the fantastic details enclosed in the medical record would not be exposed.

The physician shuddered in revulsion as she read how Bulma's first-born had entered the world with a tail….A TAIL? Of course, it was removed immediately following her son's birth with no one being privy to that detail.

What sickening genetic manipulation had Bulma engaged in to warrant such a birth occurring?

Julie snickered at the mention of aliens but then she bolted upright in her seat. What if Bulma was an alien as well? That would certainly explain why she was always one step ahead. How could a mere human compete with an otherworldly being? And even if she wasn't she had brought two abominations into existence…..

"I've got you now Bulma!"

….

Bulma looked at her watch pursing her lips in consternation. Trunks should have returned home hours ago…

….

Until the next chapter!

daughterofrisingsun